Class of 2013: Moving onward and upward

Friday

Jun 14, 2013 at 12:01 AMJun 14, 2013 at 2:10 PM

This is a class who loves playing pranks about as much as they love eating at Chipotle (which, if you were to ask one of them, is a lot). A few senior class pranks were attempted during their last week of school, some more successful than others. There was the epic fail – filling the cafeteria with balloons, which they were required to remove before the school day began – to the ultimate coup – getting to school early and parking haphazardly in the parking lot, much to the juniors’ confusion and dismay.

Erin Dale

Cohasset High School graduates were in luck — the sun decided to shine on Saturday, June 8, defying the rainy graduation day forecast. Graduates, along with their proud teachers, administrators, families and friends, gathered under the big top of the Music Circus to celebrate their achievements over the past 12 years, and prepare to start the next chapter of their lives.

Valedictorian Matthew Gregory noted in his speech to his fellow graduates, “Today marks not only a beginning, and certainly not an end, but a milestone.”

Cohasset seniors resplendent in their graduation robes — white for the girls, the guys in blue — made their way forward to accept their diplomas, special awards and recognitions, and well wishes from their educators.

Class President Andrew Barrett, salutatorian Whitney Malone, and Gregory took turns addressing their fellow classmates — and thanking their teachers and parents for all of their hard work and support over the years.

Superintendent Barbara Cataldo gave the keynote address. CHS principal Carolyn Connolly also gave a speech. This was Connolly’s first year as CHS principal and therefore her first graduating class in Cohasset.

Barrett said in his speech that although Cohasset is a small town with a small school district, it’s nice to grow up in a place where everyone knows your name.

“The environment in this small town, and in this school system, is truly unique. Never once did I feel like I was just another name and number on a class roster. As proof, today, I can say with certainty that, although she’s been here for just a year, when Principal Connolly hands out those diplomas, she’ll know the name of every student whose hand she shakes. You don’t get that at many other ceremonies,” said Barrett.

The class president also reminisced about growing up with many of his fellow graduates. “When I look out at my fellow classmates, I see the same faces that I shared the sandbox with in preschool, the same bus stop buddies who I rode to the Deer Hill and Osgood schools with, and the same friends that I played Little League with. Sure, there have been some additions and subtractions over the years, but how lucky are we to have this team of 86 strong who are still standing here today?”

Before Superintendent Cataldo took to the podium, she paid a special tribute to Osgood art teacher Betsy Ogden, who is retiring from Cohasset schools after 19 years. Ogden received a certificate of appreciation, during which she addressed the crowd, quoting Dr. Seuss: “Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened.”

For the class of 2013, smiling is not a challenge. This is a class who loves playing pranks about as much as they love eating at Chipotle (which, if you were to ask one of them, is a lot). A few senior class pranks were attempted during their last week of school, some more successful than others. There was the epic fail – filling the cafeteria with balloons, which they were required to remove before the school day began – to the ultimate coup – getting to school early and parking haphazardly in the parking lot, much to the juniors’ confusion and dismay.

Malone alluded to the “great parking lot prank of 2013” and said of her class’s uniqueness as a whole, “Ironically, our distinction is revealed when we join as a class.”

Class of 2014, you’re up next — and no doubt already plotting a way to top the parking lot prank.